Mamma Mia! Post-Pregnancy Workouts of Our Fave Celebs

Getting back in shape after giving birth is as challenging as managing a full night’s sleep during those early days, but it can be done, as evidenced by some of our favorite celebrity mamas. In fact, Mariah Carey gave birth to healthy twins just six short months ago and has managed to lose 70(!) pounds since then!

Here’s how they shed those post-baby pounds:

Mariah Carey Now that her twins Moroccan and Monroe are six-months old, Mimi has been enjoying a little me-time in the water. The singer, who has always kept in shape through water aerobics, is doing her postnatal exercise in the ocean and pool. The nonimpact activity provides a great muscle-toning cardiovascular workout. Plus, according to Carey, it’s “three times more effective” than other exercise routines. And when she’s not taking a dip, she’s out walking her five Jack Russell terriers.

Jessica Alba The mother of two, who kept exercising all throughout her second pregnancy, is preparing to hit the gym big-time now that three-year-old Honor’s baby sister has arrived. “Working out every day for even just 45 minutes is good for my mental state,” she recently told Lucky magazine. “Getting dressed and actually doing it is the worst. It’s hard to get motivated.” That’s why she relies on her trainer Ramona Braganza to keep her moving. Last time Alba gave birth, Braganza eased her into a routine with 25 minutes of crunches and gradually added cardio and circuit training, such as chest presses and lunges, until she was able to work out six days a week. She even mixed it up with boxing and hikes.

Penelope CruzJavier Bardem’s señora has been spotted on the Italian set of Woody Allen’s upcoming film Bop Decameron wearing a tight red mini dress accentuating her fabulous post-baby figure. Motherhood definitely agrees with the 37-year-old, who gave birth to son Leo back in January. Her secret? Dancing. “I love ballet and it’s a little boring for me to go to the gym because I’m used to the dancing discipline—it’s really hard but much more fun,” she told the Daily Mirrorin May. Cruz, who trained for years as a ballerina, dances four hours a day!

Gisele BundchenThe 31-year-old Brazilian model hit the runway just six months after the birth of her son Benjamin Rein in December of 2009. “I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week,” she said in Vogue’s annual shape issue last year. She continues to stay toned with Tracy Anderson’s dance cardio workouts in L.A.

Jennifer LopezEven the Most Beautiful Woman in the World needed a little help getting fit after giving birth to twins Max and Emme in 2008. With the aid of trainer Gunnar Peterson, Lopez began to lose the 50 pounds she had gained by pairing 30-minute walks with push-ups and lunges. She then took it to the next level by signing up for her first-ever triathlon (1/2 mile swim, 18-mile bike ride and 4-mile run) six months after the twins’ arrival. Peterson whipped her into shape with a combination of long runs, swimming and biking six times a week. “I’m always challenging myself and seeing what I can do,” she told Good Morning America right before the big race.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, where more languages are spoken than anywhere in the world, Grace Bastidas is Latina’s Deputy Editor. She oversees lifestyle content, including topics as diverse as career, health and relationships, and occasionally writes about her own experiences in The Good Life section. As a writer, Grace’s work has appeared in The New York Times, New York magazine, The Wall Street Journal and Travel + Leisure. She is fluent in Spanish.

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